Wide field of view reflex gunsight

ABSTRACT

A gunsight comprises a unitary frame (2) for securing to a gun. The frame (2) has a ring (20) with a lens (22) at its front end. A light source (36) is secured to the frame rear end to project a light spot onto the lens (22). The lens (22) and the light source (36) may be independently adjustable in the vertical and horizontal planes, respectively. Alternatively, where the light source (36) is fixed the lens (22) may be adjusted in the vertical and horizontal planes. The light source (36) and the lens (22) are positioned relative to each other and to the gun barrel axis such that the light spot projected onto the lens (22) is reflected to a shooter&#39;s eye who then lines up the light spot onto a target to take aim.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.08/034,839, filed on Mar. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,888; whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/003,703, filedon Jan. 1, 1993, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a gunsight and specificallyto a reflex type gunsight having a wide field of view.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reflex gunsights primarily use telescope like tubes to enclose theoptical elements. They project a bright spot of light against a windowand the gun is sighted by placing the spot on the target as seen throughthe window. They are typically heavy and somewhat cumbersome to use andhave relatively restricted fields of view.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides otheradvantages as will be discussed below.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that has a wide field of view and relatively light weight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that is relatively rugged and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that provides independent adjustments for height and windage.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that has a variable intensity light spot dependent on theintensity of the ambient light.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide areflex gunsight that has a unitary body construction and relativelyminimum parts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that has modular electrical components for ease of manufacture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight that will fit a relatively wide range of firearms.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reflexgunsight of compact design for relative ease of use with a holster.

In summary, the present invention provides a reflex gunsight thatprovides a wide field of view and is relatively rugged and inexpensiveto manufacture.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gunsight in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components used in thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a gunsight inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top cross-sectional view taken alongline 8--8 of FIG. 5, showing a locking mechanism for the heightadjustment screw.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side cross-sectional view taken alongline 9--9 in FIG. 6, showing the windage block assembly used in thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top cross-sectional view taken along lines 10--10in FIG. 5, showing the windage block assembly used in the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged top view of a windage screw used in the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of another embodimentof a windage screw used in the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows bottom and side elevational views of the electricalcomponents used in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view with portions shown incross-section, showing various recesses in the gunsight frame toaccommodate the electrical components shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a gunsight inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of FIG. 15 with portions shown incross-section.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of FIG. 16 with portions shown incross-section.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line18--18 in FIG. 17, showing a shim removably secured to a leg portion ofthe gunsight.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through one of theleg portions of the gunsight secured to a gun frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A gunsight R in accordance with the present invention is disclosed inFIG. 1. The gun sight R is made of a unitary body 2 having a lower arm 4and an upper arm 6 that is hingedly connected to the lower arm 4 througha integral hinge portion 8. The hinge portion 8 has a thinner portion 9intermediate thicker portions 11 to advantageously provide resiliencyand flexibility to the hinge portion 8. The body 2 is preferably madefrom DELRIN or equivalent materials.

The lower arm 4 has opposed leg portions 10 and 12 extending downwardlyfrom a base portion 14, thereby defining a slot 16 for receiving aportion of the gun (see FIG. 19) onto which the gunsight R is secured.Holes 18 disposed on the lower end of the leg portions 10 and 12 areused to secure the gunsight R to the gun.

The upper arm 6 is disposed at the front end of the lower arm 4. Theupper arm 6 has a ring portion 20 in which a lens 22 is secured by alocking ring 24. The upper arm 6 has a base portion 26 that is disposedsubstantially transversely to the ring portion 20, as best shown in FIG.1.

The ring portion 20 has a through opening 28 within which the lens 22 issecured by conventional means.

A captive screw 30 is secured to the base portion 14 of the lower arm 4and cooperates with a threaded hole 32 in the base portion 26 of theupper arm 6 to selectively raise or lower the base portion 26 about thehinge portion 8. Thus, turning the screw 30 moves the angulardisposition of the optical axis 34 of the lens 22, thereby providingheight adjustment along the vertical plane for the gunsight R.

A photodiode assembly 36 is disposed on the rear end of the lower arm 4,as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The photodiode assembly 36 is carried bya windage block or slide 38, which is supported within a slot 40 by aguide rod 42 and a windage adjusting screw 44, as best shown in FIG. 2.The windage block 38 is slidable with respect to the guide rod 42. Theadjusting screw 44 cooperates with the windage block 38 such thatrotation of the screw 44 along its axis causes the windage block 38 tomove within the slot 40 along the axis of the screw 44. The windageadjusting screw 44 provides the gunsight R with azimuth adjustment alongthe horizontal plane.

A battery 46 is disposed within a battery holder 48 on the base portion14 of the lower arm 4. A photocell switch 50 is advantageously disposedat the front end of the base portion 14 of the lower arm 4, as bestshown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The battery 46, the photocell switch 50 and thephotodiode assembly 36 are connected in series, such that when lightrays 52 impinge on the photocell 50 the circuit is completed, causingcurrent from the battery 46 to flow through the photodiode assembly 36to energize it. The photocell switch 50 advantageously has an internalresistance that decreases as the light rays intensity increases, therebyincreasing the voltage across the photodiode 36, and increasing itslight output. In the absence of light rays 52, as when the gunsight R isplaced inside a carrying case, the photocell switch 50 willadvantageously be in the open position, thereby conserving batterypower. A person of ordinary skill in the art will therefore understandthat the operation of the photocell switch 50 is automatic, withoutrequiring any action on the part of the user. This advantageouslyeliminates inadvertent draining of the battery when one forgets to turnoff the circuit switch when replacing the gun in its case.

The battery holder 48 has a cover 54 that is advantageously accessiblewithout dismounting the gunsight R from the gun.

The lens 22 has a surface disposed toward the shooter that is eitherflat or concave with a reflective coating to enhance the reflection ofred light. The concave surface advantageously makes the light spotprojected by the photodiode 36 appear larger. The concavity of the lens22 advantageously minimizes the problem of "ghosting", where the lightspot projected onto the lens 22 is reflected at the near surface andalso at the further surface of the lens.

If a concave lens is used, it is preferable that the radius of curvatureof the concave surface be greater than the distance from the photodiodeassembly 36 to the lens 22 by at least 20% to provide a focused lightspot.

The surface of the lens 22 towards the shooter is preferably providedwith a reflective coating of 1/2 wavelength for red light.

A tubular hood (not shown) enclosing the upper arm 6 to protect the lens22 may be used.

The photodiode assembly 36 is preferably a collimated LED red lightsource, since this type of photodiode generally consumes relatively lesselectricity.

In operation, the gunsight R is secured to a gun (see FIG. 19) such thatthe leg portions 10 and 12 straddle a mounting structure or frame of thegun. In daylight, the photocell switch 50 will be in the closed positionso that the photodiode assembly 36 is energized by the battery 46. Thephotodiode 36 projects a light spot on the lens 22 along a path 56 andis reflected to the eye 58 of a shooter along a line of sight 60, whichis aligned with a target.

The gunsight R is adjusted for height along the vertical plane by meansof the adjusting screw 30 and for azimuth along the horizontal plane bymeans of the windage screw 44.

The leg portions 10 and 12 are designed to accommodate the slide of anautomatic pistol as best shown in FIG. 19. A person of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that a different structure may be designed toaccommodate a different type of gun.

Because of the open design of the gunsight R, the field of view of theshooter is much wider in comparison with a gunsight utilizing thetelescope-like tube design.

Another embodiment of a gunsight S is disclosed in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Thegunsight S advantageously has an overall single width and compact heightfor shooters using a holster. The gunsight S has a stationary photodiodeassembly 36 controlled by the photocell 50 disposed under a transparentwindow 62, as best shown in FIG. 6.

The base portion 26 of the upper arm 6 is disposed in a recess 64 in thelower arm 4 to advantageously provide a compact profile for the gunsightS. The captive screw 30 used for elevation adjustments for the lens 22is locked in place by means of a locking screw 66 pushing a resilientplug 68 against the screw 30, as best shown in FIG. 8. The plug 68 maybe made of any suitable material, such as Nylon.

Windage adjustment to the lens 22 is made by means of a windage block orslide 70 that is slidable laterally within a slot 72 disposed in thebase portion 14 of the lower arm 4. A windage screw 74 moves the windageblock 70 between the walls 76 and 78 of the slot 70, as best shown inFIG. 10. A guide pin 80 disposed through a hole in the windage block 70and in sliding contact therewith guides the windage block 70 in itslateral movement within the slot 72 when the windage screw 74 is turned.A nut 71 rotatably secures the windage screw 74 in place. A plurality ofnotches 82 are disposed circumferentially and axially around the head 84of the windage screw 74 and cooperates with a spring 86 to provide adetente stop for the windage screw adjustment.

The height adjustment screw 30 is carried by the windage block 70, asbest shown in FIG. 9. The screw 30 has a flanged head 88 received in acorresponding recess in the windage block 70 and secured in place by adovetail retainer 90 received in a corresponding dovetail slot 92.

Another method for providing a locking mechanism for the windage screw74 is disclosed in FIG. 12. The windage screw 74 is provided with aconical head 94 whose periphery is in contact with the complementaryconical head 96 of a locking screw 98. When the locking screw 98 isloosened such that the head 96 is moved away from the head 94, thewindage screw 74 can then be turned to any desired amount of rotationand then locked in place by tightening the locking screw 98. Thecomplementary conical heads 94 and 96 advantageously provide relativelylarger surface contact for positive locking to withstand vibrationsencountered during firearm use. This locking mechanism alsoadvantageously provides an infinite number of adjustments for thewindage screw 74 within the limits provided by the slot 72.

The photodiode assembly 36, the photocell 50 and the battery holder 48are advantageously secured to a circuit board 100, as best shown in FIG.13. The modular design provides for ease of manufacture. Electricalcopper strips 102 on the bottom side of the circuit board 100interconnect the electrical components in a working circuit as bestshown in FIG. 4. The base portion 14 of the lower arm 2 has a cavity 104that is adapted to receive the circuit board 100 and recesses 106, 108and 110 adapted to receive the photodiode assembly 36, photocell 50 andthe battery holder 48, as best shown in FIG. 14.

Another embodiment of a gunsight T is disclosed in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17.The gunsight T has a switch/rheostat 112 to control the operation of thephotodiode assembly 36. The rheostat advantageously provides a means forvarying the voltage across the photodiode assembly 36 thereby to varyits light output. A screw-on battery cover 114 advantageously provides aconvenient means of access to the battery.

The dovetail retainer 90 for securing the height adjustment screw 30 isadvantageously disposed in a dovetail slot disposed such that it is heldcaptive by the opposing walls of the slot 72, as best shown in FIGS. 16and 17. A cover 118 advantageously protects the circuit board 100 fromdirt and other contamination.

The gunsight T is disclosed with clip-on shims 120 to advantageouslypermit the gunsight to fit a wide range of firearms. The shim 120 issecured to respective leg portions 10 and 12 by means of a ridge 122 andcooperating recess 124, as best shown in FIGS. 16 and 18. Referring toFIG. 19, the shim 120 advantageously permits the leg portions 10 and 12to straddle the gun frame 126 and allow interference-free movement forthe gun slide 128. Screw 130 secures the gunsight to the gun frame 126.

The operation of the gunsights S and T is similar to the operation ofthe gunsight R. Height adjustments are provided by the height adjustingscrew 30. After the proper adjustment has been made, the screw 30 islocked in place by the set screw 66 and plug 68. For windage adjustment,the windage screw 74 provides lateral movement for the windage block 70,which then causes the upper arm 6 to twist about the hinge portions 8,thereby shifting the optical axis 34 of the lens 22 about thehorizontal. The hinge portions 8 advantageously permit twistingmovements of the upper arm 6 above the horizontal and vertical planes.The locking screw 96 or the spring 86 locks the windage adjusting screw74 to advantageously maintain the adjustment that has been made.

While this invention has been described as having preferred design, itis understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/oradaptations following in general the principles of the invention andincluding such departures from the present disclosure as come withinknown or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains,and as may be applied to the essential features set forth and fallwithin the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A gunsight, comprising:a) a frame for being secured to agun body; b) a lens operably secured to said frame; c) a light sourcesecured to said frame for projecting an image on said lens; d) saidlight source and said lens being positioned relative to each other andto the gun barrel axis such that the image projected onto said lens isreflected to a user's eye who then lines up the image onto a target totake aim; and e) said frame including first and second opposed legportions having a U-shape for receiving the gun body therebetween,thereby to secure said gunsight to the gun body.
 2. The gunsight as inclaim 1, wherein:a) said first and second opposed leg portions are madeof plastic to thereby to absorb the shocks generated by the gun duringfiring.
 3. The gunsight as in claim 1, wherein:a) said leg portions aresubstantially parallel to each other.
 4. A gunsight, comprising:a) aframe for being secured to a gun; b) a support operably secured to saidframe such that said support is selectively adjustable relative to saidframe about at least one of the vertical and horizontal axes; c) saidframe is integral with said support to form a one-piece unit; d) a lenssecured in said support, said lens having an optical axis disposed at anangle relative to the gun barrel axis; e) a light source secured to saidframe for projecting an image onto said lens; and f) said light sourceand said lens being positioned relative to each other and to the gunbarrel axis such that the image projected onto said lens is reflected toa user's eye who then lines up the image onto a target to take aim. 5.The gunsight as in claim 4, wherein:a) said support is a ring.
 6. Thegunsight as in claim 4, wherein:a) said frame and said support are madeof plastic.
 7. The gunsight as in claim 4, and further comprising:a) aresilient member secured to said support and said frame.
 8. The gunsightas in claim 7, wherein:a) said resilient member is integral with saidsupport and said frame to form a one-piece unit.
 9. The gunsight as inclaim 7, wherein:a) said resilient member is plastic.
 10. The gunsightas in claim 8, and further comprising:a) an elevation screw threadedlysecured to said support and rotatably secured said frame for moving saidsupport about said resilient member and about the horizontal axis. 11.The gunsight as in claim 7, and further comprising:a) a windage screwoperably secured to said support and rotatably secured to said frame formoving said support about said resilient member and about the verticalaxis.
 12. A frame for a gunsight, comprising:a) a body for being securedto a portion of a gun; b) a lens support operably secured to said bodysuch that said support is selectively adjustable relative to said body;c) said body including a cavity for receiving therein electricalcomponents for the gunsight; and d) said body including first and secondopposed leg portions extending downwardly from said body to receive thegun portion therebetween, thereby to secure said body to the gunportion.
 13. A gunsight, comprising:a) a frame for being secured to agun; b) a support operably secured to said frame such that said supportis selectively adjustable relative to said frame about at least one ofthe vertical and horizontal axes; c) a windage screw operably secured tosaid support and rotatably secured to said frame for moving said supportabout the vertical axis; d) a lens secured in said support, said lenshaving an optical axis disposed at an angle relative to the gun barrelaxis; e) a light source secured to said frame for projecting an imageonto said lens; and f) said light source and said lens being positionedrelative to each other and to the gun barrel axis such that the imageprojected onto said lens is reflected to a user's eye who then lines upthe image onto a target to take aim.